The Panthers used a slow-down attack to not only keep pace with high-flying Clinton but also to pull off an upset, handing the Dark Horses their first East Central 2-A Conference loss of the year with a 50-49 victory.

“It was a big win for us,” first-year coach Robert Ross said. “Our guys did a great job just going with the game plan. We slowed it down first half. I told them before the game they can’t score 70. If they score 70, we’re not going to win. It’s got to be somewhere in the 50s.

“I think they went out there and busted their tail.”

Even then, the Panthers (5-10, 3-2) didn’t take their first lead until Nick Williams scored with just 9 seconds remaining on a layup after a missed shot — after East Duplin rallied from a 10-point deficit with 3 1/2 minutes left.

Clinton (10-3, 4-1) rushed the ball down court after Williams’ bucket, but a 3-pointer from the top of the key hit the back of the rim and Flo Laporte grabbed the rebound with about 1 second left to clinch the win.

Along with forcing Clinton to play at its tempo, another key for the Panthers was they won the battle of the boards, 29-19, behind Montell Stallings (7 rebounds) and Malik Baker (6), who also had 10 points. Stallings had 9 points.

Chris Scarborough led the Panthers in scoring with 12 points

Clinton was led by Ryan Chester’s 15 points.

Clinton led 16-13 after the opening period, and both teams scored just 4 points in the second quarter. The Dark Horses led 36-29 going into the fourth quarter, but the Panthers turned up the heat with a full-court press and half-court trap.

“We were able to get a couple turnovers, and I thought they rushed some stuff,” Ross said. “We did a good job. We’ve been outrebounded by everybody we’ve played. We’re 6-foot-2 at the max, and we win the rebounding battle tonight. That’s huge.”

Southwest 74, East Carteret 73: Corey Wohlever scored on a layup with about 7 seconds left as Southwest rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 1 1/2 minutes after leading by 11 at halftime to beat East Carteret in a battle atop the Coastal Plains 1-A Conference.

Both teams came into the game 2-0 in the league.

“It was a big win for us because East Carteret is good,” Southwest coach Tommy Barnes said. “This was good, and plus we played at East Carteret, which is a tough place to play. It’s a big win, a big win.”

Jonathan Williams, who scored a team-high 17 points, stole the ball twice in the final 90 seconds and turned the turnovers into buckets to help key the Stallions’ comeback. Jeffery Williams added 16 and Wohlever 11. Wohlever also had 12 rebounds.

Pamlico 69, Lejeune 68: Pamlico used a 30-12 third quarter spurt to erase a 10-point halftime deficit and withstood a furious late rally to edge Lejeune in a Coastal Plains 1-A Conference game aboard Camp Lejeune.

The Devilpups, who led 31-21 at halftime, pulled within 69-68 on Ryan Evans’ 3-pointer with about 2 seconds left, but the Hurricanes didn’t have to throw the ball in as they held on to beat Lejeune.

South Central 66, White Oak 51: Kendall White scored 18 points for White Oak, but South Central got 20 points from Brian Brightwell and bolted to a 25-11 lead after the first quarter en route to the Coastal 3-A Conference victory in Winterville.

Lejeune 57, Pamlico 39: Chatori Major poured in 34 points and Lejeune used a strong second quarter to roll past Pamlico in a battle of unbeatens in the Coastal Plains 1-A Conference aboard Camp Lejeune.

The Devilpups (13-0) are now 3-0 in the CPC, one game up on both Pamlico (8-4, 2-1) and Southwest (5-10), which travels to Lejeune next Friday night after area schools take a break for exams.

The game was tied at 10 after the first quarter, but the Devilpups outscored Pamlico 19-8 in the second quarter and never looked back.

“They played us real tough,” Lejeune coach Kevin Popadines said. “It was a good test for us and I think we did a good job. The girls worked real hard tonight.”

Dixon 50, Jones Senior 47: Corkie Aquafredda scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as Dixon raced out to a 26-7 halftime lead and then held on for a Coastal Plains 1-A Conference road win over Jones Senior.

Carly Rochelle added 11 points for the Bulldogs, who are now 7-10 and 1-2.

Clinton 53, East Duplin 44: East Duplin suffered its first East Central 2-A Conference loss of the season, falling to Clinton.

Brittney Woodard recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds and Amber Hall added 15 points and 12 boards for the Panthers, who closed to within 35-32 after the third quarter after trailing by nine at halftime.

South Lenoir 54, Swansboro 49: Swansboro rallied from a 15-point deficit to within one in the final 30 seconds, but South Lenoir hit four free throws in the final 15 seconds to escape with a hard-fought East Central 2-A Conference road win.

The Blue Devils (10-3, 4-1) led 32-17 at halftime, but Swansboro (3-11, 1-4) cut the deficit to 50-49 late in the final seconds before South Lenoir won it at the foul line.

East Carteret 32, Southwest 30: Naya Burney scored 15 points and Mikhayla Dugan pulled down 21 rebounds to go along with 9 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to offset a poor night shooting as Southwest fell at East Carteret in a Coastal Plains 1-A Conference game.

“Tough loss,” coach Bev Marley said.

The Stallions were 9 of 60 from the floor and also hit just 11 of 31 free throws in losing to the Mariners, who were just 1 of 7 from the foul line.